Thursday, November 13, 2014

Statement of the Brotherhood of the Orthodox Clergy Association of Houston and Southeast Texason the Comments of Fr. Robert Arida on Homosexuality

In response to Fr. Robert Arida’s recent article, which was posted on the OCA’s Wonder blog, there have been many eloquent rebuttals. We do not wish to attempt to reproduce those critiques here, but we do wish to underscore some of the more important points that have been made, and to speak out publically on this controversy.

We find it unacceptable for Orthodox Clergy, who have been given the charge to instruct and guide the laity, to suggest that the moral Tradition of the Orthodox Church needs to change with the times or with the prevalent culture. St. Paul admonishes us to "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2). And it should be noted that the word translated "world" is not "kosmos" (the material world, world order, or people of the world), but "tō aiōni" which refers to the age (or generation, or time) in which we live. And we have no better guide as to what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is than we find in the Scriptures and Tradition of the Church.

It is also contrary to our Tradition to write about matters of faith or piety in ways that are intentionally ambiguous – this is rather the approach of liberal Protestantism. As Sergey Khudiev wrote, in response to a previous statement by Fr. Robert Arida, which was likewise replete with studied ambiguity, liberal Protestants have “a particularity which entails a tendency to explain themselves with rhetorical questions, vague allusions and highly mysterious phrases from which you can with more or less justification guess at their positions, but are unable to explain clearly.”1

We are all the more concerned that members of Fr. Robert Arida’s parish who identify themselves as homosexuals, report that though they make no secret of their ongoing homosexual relationships, they are freely communed. One such person, wrote, on an open Facebook group (named oxymoronically “Pro-Gay Orthodox Christians”): “I am gay... I was married to my husband in a civil ceremony in 2005. When I began attending Holy Trinity later that year I was completely up front with the priest. My husband, Martin, began attending liturgies regularly about two years ago. He was chrismated Holy Saturday earlier this year. Our relationship is not a secret; I have had no negative interactions with either clergy or laity in this parish. Martin and I are not the only gay people in the parish, though after Martin became Orthodox, we are the only Orthodox gay *couple* as far as I know. I don't think this constitutes "don't ask don't tell." More like "ask or tell whatever you like... we don't care." Just saying.”2

Fr. Robert Arida’s recent and past statements on the issue of homosexuality are a scandal to the faithful. They also present those who are sincerely struggling against homosexual temptations with additional temptations, and misdirection. As a pan Orthodox organization, we are also concerned that such blatant disregard for the Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church present further obstacles to Orthodox unity in America. We can only unite around a common fidelity to the authentic faith and piety of our Tradition. If we are not united in that, then authentic unity is impossible.

This is not a matter that can be swept under the rug of "theologoumenon." A theologoumenon is an opinion that may or may not be correct, but which is neither an authoritative teaching of the Church, nor is it outside of the bounds of acceptable Orthodox opinion. Suggesting that homosexual sex may not really be a sin is not within the bounds of acceptable Orthodox opinion, but on the contrary, the consistent teaching of the Scriptures, canons, and the fathers and saints of the Church that homosexual sex is inherently sinful is clear and unambiguous.

We recognize that those who are struggling against homosexual temptations should be treated with pastoral patience, mercy, and love… as should sinners of any kind that are repenting of their sin, and seeking spiritual healing. However, suggesting to any sinner that their sin is not really a sin, and that they need not repent of it in order to worthily receive the Mysteries of the Church is pastoral malpractice, and cannot be tolerated.

We pray that the Bishops of the OCA will deal with this matter with the seriousness and urgency that it warrants, and put an end to these abuses.

This statement was approved unanimously by those present at our November 11, 2014 meeting, and other clergy who are members of our clergy association, who were not present, have asked to have their names added as well, more names may be added later.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Terry Lowry is a conservative Christian Talk Show host who has been on the air for many years, and who was kind enough to have Fr. John Whiteford on his show to talk about the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East. You can listen to the show by clicking here.

It starts off talking about Orthodoxy, because he was curious to know more about it, and then moves on to what is going on in the Middle East and what we can do about it.

The unedited audio of the full meeting is found here, including the question and answers session at the end, which is not in the first link because the sound quality of the questions is not very good, but it is audible:

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

It is important that you make you letter to your congressman and to your senators as personal as possible, you should not just cut and past this letter, and mail it in. Also, it is best to send a written letter the old fashioned way, rather than simply sending this as an e-message. You can find out who your congressman and your two federal senators by putting your address into this web site: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx which will also give you their contact information.

The main points you want to make are:

1. Stop pouring gasoline on the fire by supporting Jihadist rebels.

2. Start getting humanitarian relief to the Christians and other victims of the Jihadists.

3. Take decisive military action to destroy ISIS.

By the way, if you voted for the person you are writing, it doesn't hurt to mention that.

Dear Congressman X,

My name is X, I live in your district, and am writing to ask you about the desperate conditions that Christians in the Middle East are currently facing. I am asking that you use your influence to have our government stop throwing gasoline on the fire by supporting the rebels of the “Arab Spring”. I am also asking that we actively direct humanitarian aid to help displaced Christians in the Middle East. Furthermore, we need to actively seek the elimination of ISIS and other Jihadists groups that are rampaging across the Middle East.

Christians are being systemically slaughtered. Christian communities, which have been in existence since the days of the Apostles, are being destroyed before our very eyes. Virtually nothing is being done to prevent our brothers and sisters from being raped, robbed, sold into slavery, butchered, or buried alive. Those able to flee are being pursued with almost no international or American aid, and those who reach refugee camps are in wretched conditions at best. The Christian population, which was about 20% of the Middle East only a hundred years ago, is rapidly declining. It is now about 5%, and may completely disappear, if we allow things to continue on their present course.

The “Arab Spring” that our government has actively supported has resulted in turning Libya into a terrorist state. We actively supported the Muslim Brotherhood government of Egypt, which launched a brutal persecution of the Church -- which was only ended by a massive uprising of the people. Our government’s policy of funding, supplying, arming, and training the so-called “Free Syrian Army” has also been a disaster, which has resulted in half of the population of Syria being displaced, Christians being massacred, ancient Christian communities being destroyed, and the creation of ISIS, which spread this violence into Iraq.

We must stop supporting the overthrow of secular governments in the Middle East. Assad is not a perfect ruler for Syria, but his government is the only force in Syria that is seeking to protect Christians. If you ask any Christians in Syria, they will tell you that they do not want to see the Assad government overthrown.

I am glad that our government has been able to help the Yazidi community in Iraq. I wonder why our government ignored the slaughter and misery of Christians in Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, but came running when a sect that most of us had never heard of was in danger. Are we afraid to be seen helping Christians, because we are afraid Muslims will think we are taking sides? There are only two sides when it comes to genocide – the side of good and the side of evil. Anyone who is offended that any government would seek to help religious minorities who are being targeting for destruction is on the side of evil. We should stop caring what they think, and start doing the right thing because it is the right thing.

I would like to meet with you at your earliest convenience to talk about this matter further.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Christians are being systemically slaughtered, and their communities, which have been in existence since the days of the Apostles, are being destroyed before our very eyes.

Virtually nothing is being done to prevent our brothers and sisters from being raped, robbed, sold into slavery, butchered, or buried alive. Those able to flee are being pursued with almost no international or American aid, and those who reach refugee camps are in wretched conditions at best. To call this a “humanitarian crisis” is a gross understatement.

Where is the international response? Where is the outrage?

This town meeting of representatives of the Orthodox, Coptic and Syriac Christian communities of the Houston area will provide a current assessment of this cascading tragedy, formulate action plans, and organize to produce tangible results. Our focus is to raise public awareness as well as to provide aid to our fellow Christians and other religious minorities being persecuted by Islamic extremists.

Federal, state and local officials are invited to participate in this collaborative effort to rescue the victims and stop this primeval savagery. Members of the press are asked to come and hear from those whose loved ones are the targets of these atrocities. Faith, love, hope, and religious freedom will triumph if good people will no longer turn a blind eye and instead take action. This is our duty and obligation.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

More details will be forthcoming, but on September 5th, 2014, at 7 pm, the Orthodox Clergy Association of Houston and Southeast Texas will have a meeting at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, in Houston to discuss the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. We are inviting all the members of the Orthodox, Coptic and Syriac Christian communities in the area to participate. We are also asking all the members of the congressional delegation of the Houston area to come. We will have speakers who will talking about what is going on, we will have questions and answers, and we will be talking about what we can do about it. Contact your congressman and ask them to come and participate... and if you don't know who your congressman is, or if you know, but don't know how to get in touch with them, see this web site: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

We also need volunteers to help contact members of the media. If you are interested, please e-mail Fr. John Whiteford.